ML12090A195
| ML12090A195 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Catawba  |
| Issue date: | 03/28/2012 |
| From: | Morris J Duke Energy Corp, Duke Energy Carolinas |
| To: | Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| EA-12-049 | |
| Download: ML12090A195 (3) | |
Text
JAMES R. MORRIS Energy Vice President Duke Energy Catawba Nuclear Station 4800 Concord Road York, SC 29745 803-701-4251 803-701-3221 fax March 28, 2012 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attention: Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555
Subject:
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC (Duke Energy)
Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2 Docket Numbers 50-413, 50-414 Duke Energy Catawba's Answer to March 12, 2012 Commission Order Modifying License With Regard to Requirements for Mitigation Strategies For Beyond Basis External Events (Order Number EA-12-049)
On March 12, 2012, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission ("NRC" or Commission) issued an immediately effective order in the captioned matter entitled Order Modifying License with regard to requirements for Mitigation Strategies for Beyond-Design-Basis External Events (Effective Immediately) ("Order") to, inter alia, Duke Energy Catawba. The Orders state that, as a result of the NRC's evaluation of the lessons learned for the accident at Fukushima Daiichi in March 2011, the NRC had decided to direct nuclear power plant licenses and construction permit holders to take certain actions. Specifically with respect to this Order, the NRC is requiring additional defense-in-depth measures at licensed nuclear power reactors to address uncertainties associated with protection from beyond-design-basis external events. Licensees are specifically directed by the Order to develop, implement, and maintain guidance and strategies to restore or maintain core cooling, containment, and spent fuel pool cooling in the event of a beyond-design-basis external event. Specific requirements are outlined in to the Order.
The Order requires submission of an overall integrated plan including a description of how compliance with the requirements described in Attachment 2 will be achieved to the NRC for review by February 28, 2013. In addition, the Order requires submission of an initial status report 60 days following issuance of the final staff guidance and at 6 month intervals following submittal of an overall integrated plan on February 28, 2013. The Order states that the NRC intends to issue the interim staff guidance containing specific details on implementation of the requirements of this Order in August 2012. Finally, the Order requires full implementation of its requirements no later than two refueling cycles after submittal of the overall integrated plan, or December 31, 2016, whichever comes first.
www. duke-energy comr
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Page 2 March 28, 2012 Pursuant to 10 C.F.R.§ 2.202 and the terms specified in the Order, Duke Energy Catawba hereby submits its answer to the order. Duke Energy Catawba consents to the Order and does not request a hearing. Based on the information currently available, Duke Energy Catawba has not identified any circumstances of the type described in IV.B.1 and IV.B.2 of the Order requiring relief at this time. In addition, Duke Energy Catawba has not identified any impediments to compliance with the Order within two refueling cycles after submittal of the integrated plan, or December 31, 2016, whichever is earlier. Duke Energy Catawba will provide further responses as required by Section IV.C. in accordance with the specified deadlines.
However, given the uncertainties associated with the ultimate scope of required work caused by the unavailability of implementing guidance until August 2012, and the impact on the ability of Duke Energy Catawba to comply with the specific compliance deadline dates based on probable availability of that guidance, Duke Energy Catawba's future responses may include requests for schedule relief as warranted by subsequent NRC requirements or implementing guidance or the results engineering analyses not yet performed. Any such request would be submitted in accordance with the relaxation provision in Section IV of the Order.
If you have any questions regarding this confirmation of receipt, please contact P.W. Barrett at (803) 701-4138.
I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
Executed on March 28, 2012.
Very truly yours, James R. Morris
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Page 3 March 28, 2012 xc:
V.M. McCree Regional Administrator U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission - Region II Marquis One Tower 245 Peachtree Center Ave., NE Suite 1200 Atlanta, GA 30303-1257 G.A. Hutto Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Catawba Nuclear Station J.H. Thompson Project Manager (addressee only)
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop 8 G9A Washington, DC 20555-0001 E.J. Leeds Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North, Mail Stop 13-H16M 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852-2738 D.L. Skeen Director, Japan Lessons Learned Project Directorate U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North, Mail Stop 9-E3 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852-2738 M.R. Johnson U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Two White Flint North, Mail Stop 6-F15 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852-2738 R.M. Taylor U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North, Mail Stop 9-E3 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852-2738